Antenna and electronic device including the same

Abstract

An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a front cover, a rear cover, an array antenna, and a support member. The support member includes a conductive first portion forming a lateral appearance of the electronic device, a second portion adjacent to the array antenna, the front cover, and the conductive first portion, and having at least one opening filled with a non-conductive material, and a third portion including a non-conductive material and disposed adjacent to the array antenna, the rear cover, and the conductive first portion. The conductive first portion is exposed to an outside of the electronic device, and the second and third portions are hidden by the front and rear covers. A beam formed by the array antenna is radiated to the outside through the at least one opening and the third portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electronic device comprising:
 a front cover and a rear cover forming a part of an outer appearance of the electronic device; 
 an array antenna comprising a plurality of antenna elements disposed between the front cover and the rear cover; and 
 a support member disposed between the front cover and the rear cover, wherein the support member is configured to:
 support a display of the electronic device, and 
 extend to a lateral surface of the electronic device to form at least in part a lateral appearance of the electronic device, 
 
 the support member comprising:
 a conductive first portion forming the lateral appearance of the electronic device; 
 a second portion adjacent to the array antenna, the front cover, and the conductive first portion, and comprising at least one opening filled with a non-conductive material; and 
 a third portion comprising a non-conductive material and disposed adjacent to the array antenna, the rear cover, and the conductive first portion, 
 
 wherein the conductive first portion is exposed to an outside of the electronic device, and the second portion and the third portion are hidden by the front cover and the rear cover so as not to be exposed to the outside, and 
 wherein a beam formed by the array antenna is radiated to the outside through the at least one opening and the third portion. 
 
     
     
       2. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the display comprises:
 a display panel disposed between the front cover and the rear cover and overlapping the at least one opening; and 
 a conductive sheet disposed on a rear surface of the display panel so as not to overlap the at least one opening. 
 
     
     
       3. The electronic device of  claim 2 , wherein the conductive sheet comprises at least one notch or slot, the at least one notch or slot being formed in a region overlapping the at least one opening. 
     
     
       4. The electronic device of  claim 2 , wherein the electronic device further comprises a conductive connection member disposed between the conductive sheet and the conductive first portion. 
     
     
       5. The electronic device of  claim 4 , wherein the conductive connection member comprises a metal member configured to electrically connect the conductive first portion and the conductive sheet. 
     
     
       6. The electronic device of  claim 4 , wherein the conductive connection member further comprises an electrical connecting position disposed between the conductive first portion and the conductive sheet and configured to determine radiation characteristics of the array antenna. 
     
     
       7. The electronic device of  claim 2 ,
 wherein at least one of the conductive first portion or the second portion is disposed to face the front cover, 
 wherein at least one of the conductive first portion or the second portion comprises a flat portion and a curved portion extended from the flat portion, and 
 wherein the display panel and the conductive sheet are disposed adjacent to at least a part of the curved portion extended from the flat portion. 
 
     
     
       8. The electronic device of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one opening is disposed at least in part in the flat portion and the curved portion. 
     
     
       9. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the second portion and the third portion are disposed at least in part to be connected to each other. 
     
     
       10. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the non-conductive material of the second portion and the non-conductive material of the third portion have a same or different dielectric constants. 
     
     
       11. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one opening is disposed at a position corresponding to the plurality of antenna elements. 
     
     
       12. The electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one opening is formed in a number corresponding to a number of the plurality of antenna elements. 
     
     
       13. The electronic device of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the plurality of antenna elements comprise a plurality of conductive patches disposed at regular intervals on a printed circuit board, and 
 wherein the at least one opening is formed in a size corresponding to all of the plurality of conductive patches. 
 
     
     
       14. A portable communication device comprising:
 a housing comprising:
 a first member forming a front portion of the portable communication device, 
 a second member forming a rear portion of the portable communication device, and 
 a third member forming a lateral portion of the portable communication device, 
 wherein the third member comprises a conductive member having an opening formed therein, and a non-conductive member filling the opening, 
 wherein one surface of the conductive member is exposed to an outside of the portable communication device, and 
 wherein the non-conductive member is disposed in the housing so as not to be exposed to the outside; 
 
 a display disposed under the first member and visually exposed to the outside through the first member; and 
 an antenna module disposed between the display and the second member and comprising an antenna and a printed circuit board, 
 wherein the antenna is formed on the printed circuit board such that a signal radiated from the antenna is transmitted to the outside through the non-conductive member. 
 
     
     
       15. The portable communication device of  claim 14 , wherein the display comprises:
 a display panel; and 
 a conductive sheet disposed on a rear surface of the display panel so as not to overlap the opening. 
 
     
     
       16. The portable communication device of  claim 15 , wherein the conductive sheet comprises at least one notch or slot, the at least one notch or slot being formed in a region overlapping the opening. 
     
     
       17. The portable communication device of  claim 14 ,
 wherein the opening comprises a first sub-opening and a second sub-opening spaced apart from each other, and 
 wherein an upper surface of the non-conductive member comprises:
 a first portion exposed through the conductive member by the first sub-opening, and 
 a second portion exposed through the conductive member by the second sub-opening. 
 
 
     
     
       18. The portable communication device of  claim 17 ,
 wherein the antenna comprises a first antenna and a second antenna spaced from each other, 
 wherein the first portion overlaps the first antenna when viewed in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first portion of the upper surface, and 
 wherein the second portion overlaps the second antenna when viewed in a direction substantially perpendicular to the second portion of the upper surface. 
 
     
     
       19. The portable communication device of  claim 14 , wherein the conductive member overlaps the antenna when viewed in a direction substantially perpendicular to a surface of the printed circuit board facing the lateral portion. 
     
     
       20. The portable communication device of  claim 14 , wherein the conductive member extends into the housing to support a lower surface of the antenna module.